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Why FEC Check?

Words by Tiffany Menzies – Product Technical Manager - Nutrition

 

Drench resistance is a fact of life, but FEC testing can help manage this troublesome issue, writes Tiffany Menzies, Product Technical Manager – Nutrition at Farmlands. 

 

Believing you can simply drench your way out of drench resistance is a fairy-tale. Today’s unenviable reality is that drench resistance now exists on most New Zealand farms. But there’s no shame in that either! Successful parasite management in the face of drench resistance is not only conceivable, it’s happening across the motu. How? By utilising key economically sustainable tools and effective targeted strategies, for example: faecal egg count (FEC) monitoring, integrated cross-species grazing, robust pasture management and crops. 

 

For youngstock who are most at risk from the ill effects of worms, a FEC test prior to giving any worm drench will show if drenching is needed. While doing a ‘Drench Check FEC’ 10-14 days after drenching will indicate it’s efficacy. Optimally, continue FEC monitoring and use test results to inform drench decisions and impede developing drench resistance. Also, don’t drench purely by the calendar, as it empowers drench resistance. While not a golden bullet, FEC tests are cheap and easy to do. You should consider FEC testing any stock prior to purchase or arrival on your property to help reduce the risk of importing unwanted drench resistant worm species. 

 

 

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Roger Dettling, one of Farmlands’ Nutrition Specialists, runs a block with 50-70 dairy heifer grazers in Taranaki, with a small flock of breeding sheep. Roger has this to say about his experience with FEC testing: “With the heifer grazers, their owners often asked me to give a six weekly drench but I was reluctant to do so knowing about growing drench resistance. Early this spring they were performing well but were starting to ’get loose’, so I decided to get a FEKPAKG2 kit and do a mob FEC sample on 10- 15 heifers. 

 

The test results showed a Zero egg count, which reinforced my decision to not drench at this time. Instead, we included half a kg/DM of hay, and the cattle firmed up within a few days while continuing to meet expected weight gains. “Back in the autumn, I had a young breeding ram not maintaining weight and not improving after worm drenching. I did a FEC sample 10 days post-drenching which showed a very high egg count, with minimal egg reduction subsequently after trying a couple different combination drench options. 

 

Further larval culture testing identified the worm species present. Following a vet consultation, a successful clean out drench with Zolvix was done. We have also used cross grazing with cattle and sheep to clean up pastures and reduce the worm challenges for stock. “FEC testing has provided benefits in drench savings in the cattle and identifying the cause of the problem in our sheep. Therefore, I would highly suggest FEC testing before you drench and ongoing testing as a key aspect of your parasite management approach.”

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